Dustin Pedroia singles to center field in the sixth inning. Pedroia was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Portland Press Herald photo by Ben McCanna
PORTLAND — Dustin Pedroia scored the tying run in the sixth inning.
He was in the clubhouse when Bobby Dalbec homered in the winning runs.
Dustin Pedroia is greeted with a high-five as he returns to the dugout after diving for a grounder and throwing out a runner at first base. Portland Press Herald photo by Ben McCanna
Dalbec’s two-run homer in the eighth gave the Portland Sea Dogs a 3-1 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field.
Pedroia, in his fourth game on a rehab assignment with the Sea Dogs, played seven innings, going 1 for 3 with a single and two groundouts. In the field, he made a nifty, sliding backhanded stop on a grounder up the middle, and then delivered a strike to first.
“I’m just getting back into it. Just playing, getting used to everything,” Pedroia said. “Timing is good. It’s getting better.”
Pedroia said he will probably DH in Thursday’s 11 a.m. game. He will likely take Friday off and possibly join the Sea Dogs when they play in Trenton this weekend “for a couple of games.”
Wednesday featured Pedroia and the prospects. Dalbec, who is batting .228, continues to show signs of breaking out. He went 3 for 4, extending his hit streak to five games (7 for 19).
“I’ve felt good all year. Lots of loud outs and well-hit balls. I’m just trying to stick with it,” Dalbec said.
Dalbec made two fielding errors at third base, but also made the defensive play of the game. With the score tied at 1-1 and the bases loaded with one out in the top of the eighth, Dalbec reached to snag a sinking line drive, and then tagged third base for a double play.
In the bottom of the inning, Dalbec gave Portland the lead. With one runner on and two outs, reliever Willy Ortiz delivered a 93 mph fastball inside and belt-high. Dalbec turned on it — 107 mph off the bat, and an estimated 382 feet, over the left-field wall.
Dustin Pedroia throws to first after touching the bag to get the out against New Hampshire’s Riley Adams in the fifth inning and narrowly misses a double play. Portland Press Herald photo by Ben McCanna
On the mound, Sea Dogs right-hander Denyi Reyes turned in one of his best starts — one run on five hits and no walks, over seven innings, striking out six. In his past four starts, Reyes had allowed 18 runs.
“I was more aggressive with my secondary pitches — my slider and change-up,” Reyes said.
Durbin Feltman (1-1) relieved in the eighth and walked the bases loaded, with one out. Dalbec’s play ended the inning.
Feltman began the ninth with a walk. Adam Lau relieved and walked his first batter. Lau escaped with two groundouts sandwiched around a strikeout, for his second save.
The Sea Dogs got their first run when Pedroia led off the sixth with a line-drive single to center, off a high Ortiz fastball. After a walk, Dalbec hit into a double play, advancing Pedroia to third. Joey Curletta, just picked up off waivers from Seattle, doubled to left-center, scoring Pedroia.
New Hampshire starter Andrew Sopko pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits.
NOTES: With the Boston Red Sox scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday, Pedroia said he never considered leaving his rehab assignment to attend. “Unfortunately, we only have a certain amount of time, 20 days (on a rehab assignment),” he said … With his lengthy stay in Portland, Pedroia’s wife and three sons stayed with him last weekend, taking in sights, including the Portland Headlight … Sea Dogs manager Joe Oliver rejoined the team during the game, after being gone since last week. His father, Stan Oliver, died last Sunday at the age of 82 … The announced paid attendance was 3,028 … The Sea Dogs will be welcoming students from 14 schools Thursday as the kids enjoy a field trip to Hadlock Field.
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